Electric sign apparatus.



PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

fNo. 839,455.

I'. B. COOK.

ELECTRIC SIGN APPARATUS'.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

i) Je PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

F. B. COOK.

ELECTRIC SIGN APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30I 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FRANK B. COOK, OFv CHICAGO, ILLlNOIS.

ELECTRIC SIGN APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patient. Application iled January 30,1904. Serial No. 191,302.

Patented Dee. 25, 1906.

Serial No. 164,184, filed July 3, 1903, and is more particularly adapted for use in connection with electric signs. In said former application I have claimed my invention broadly, while in the present application l have claimed both broadly and speciiically the features which constitute matters of improvement on the broad idea of em loyin one or more self-contained electrotiherma switches for automatically controlling the incandescent lamps of an electric sign and for y automatically causing said lamps or groups of said lamps to ilash or glow in the ordinary and well-known manner or for controlling any other suitable or desired translating means.

Generally stated,- the object of my present invention is to provide an improved construction and circuit arrangement of electrothermal switches whereby a lurality oi. lamps or a plurality of groups ci) lamps may be caused to automatically and successively glow, and also whereby a plurality of lam s- Ora (plurality of groups of lam s may e cause o to ash or g w successive y and then to all glow simultaneously.

A special obJec't 1s to provide an improved construction and arran ement whereby a plurality of electrothermai switches may be employed for controlling the lamps and whereby the thermal or heat-generatin circuit of one switch may be controlled by t e switch-contacts of another switch.

It is also an ob]ect to rovide certain details of im rovement ten ing to increase the general e ciency and serviceability of electric sign apparatus of this particular character.

To the foregoing and otheruseul ends my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a construction and circuit arrangement whereby a lurality of lamps or a pluralityof groups o lamps may be caused to glow successively. Fig. 21s a similar diagram illustrating a matter of further improvement, whereby the lamps or the groups of lampsl may not only be caused to glow successively, but whereby the successive glowing of the lamps may be followedy instantly by a simultaneous glowing ofthe same.

As thus illustrated and referring to Fig. 1, my improved electric sign apparatus may comprise a plurality of incandescent lamps 1, 2, 3, and 4 or may comprise a plurality of groups of lamps-such, for example, as a sign in which each group Yof lamps constitutes either a letter or a word or even a complete sentcnce. For convenience of illustration and description, however, it will be suficient in the present case to consider merely a plurality of individual incandescent lamps adapted'to glow in succession, as illustrated. lf desired, both the electrothermal switches and the lamps may be operated from a common source of current-such, for example, as an ordinary dynamo or generator A. The usual and well-known parallel arrangement of the lamps can of course be adopted in any suitable'known or approved way. The electrothermal switches B, C, and D are ina (fen- .eral way similar to each other, each, as illustrated, consisting of a hollow body and having its interior divided by a thin flexible diaphragm and provided. with switch-contacts adapted to be opened and closed by the vibrations of said diaphragm, and also with a heating-,coil 'or other suitable resistance inclosed within or associated with one of the chambers at each side of said diaphragm'. For example, the electrothermal Aswitch B comprises a casing b, rovided interiorly with a dividing-wal or exible diaphragm b and provided at itsV ends with, caps b2 and b3. The interior thus helymetically sealed is divided into two compartments, one of which compartments comprises the heating-coil or resistance b, one end 'with a binding-post orterminal b5 and at the other end-with a contact b, .which latter isnormally in engagement with the said diaphragm:- ,Another contact 'b7 is provided and arranged in such a manner as to be normallyout of enga ement with the said diaphragm. When s1 cient current passes through the said heatin -coil, heat is' generated and the air in lt e compartment .in which the coil is inclosed expands and movesthe diaphragm out' of engagement with -one .contact and into engagement with the other contact. This same principle of construction is embodied in the other switches. The-principle of construction of the apparatus, together with the slight vari- The said coil connects at.

IOC

ation in the const-ruction in the different switches, will, however, be best understood by considering the operation'of the appara- Assuming the apparatus to be in the condition shown inFig. 1, current passes over the generator A, through the conductor 5, to and through the lamp 1, through the conductor 6, to the.binding,post d of the switch D, the contact d -being carried by the diaphragm cl3, while the contact d2 is carried by the casing d4. The circuit is then continued through the binding-post Z5 and through the conductor 7 to the binding-post e of the switch C and through the normally closed contacts c and c2, the contact c being carried by the dia- ',phragrn c3, while the contact c2 is carried. by

the casing c4. The circuit is then continued through the binding-post c5 and the conductor 8 to the brnding-post b5, thence through.

the heating-coil b4, through the contact be, and the diaphragm t', through the binding-post t8, and thence through the conductors 9 and 10 to said generator or other source' of cur- -rent A: The-current from the source of suplply and the resistance of the circuit thus formed are of such character as toinsure a normal flow oi current suilicient to generate considerable heat in the coil b4 and to of course cause the lamp 1 to-glow. 'The heat generated inthe chamber b of the switch B expands the air in such chamber, and thereby causes the diaphragm b to move out of-engagement with the contact b and into engagement with the contact bl. The diaphragm itself, it Will be seen, in this Way constitutes two of the circuit-contacts, the opening of the contactsrincluded in the thermal or `heating circuit of the switch B causing the,

tact cs, withwhich one end ofthe coil c9 isconnected, thence through the said coil and lamp 1 to cease glowing and a practically in- -Istantaneous closing of the contacts, including the contact bl, serving to close a circuit through the lamp 2. "This automatically closed circuit is from the generator A through the conductor 5, thence through the conductors 11 and 12, through the binding-post c6 of the switch C, through the contact c7, carried by the diaphragm e3, thence through the conthe binding-post el", through the'conductor 13, through thelamp 2 and the conductor 14, thence through the binding-post blo'and the 'con-tact 7, through the diaphragm t( and the binding-post t8, and thence through the -conductors 9 and 10 to the said generator. i'lhe normal Vflow of current through this circuit is sufficient to both light the lamp 2 and cause the coil c9 to generate heat enough to expand the air in the chamber Within which it is conined,tl1ereby causing the diaphragm c? to open the contacts c7 and c8 and alsoopen the contacts c and c2. ln this way the switch C serves to automatically open the circuit of vlamp V2l and at the Sametime automatically open the circuit of the coil b4; also, the diaphragm c3 moves into engagement With the contact c.

theeonductors 5, 11, and 15, through the binding-post d, through the normally closed contacts (Z7 and d8, which are mechanically connected, respectively, with the diaphragm This results in the completion of the circuit from the generator A, through d3 and the heating-coil d, the latter contact being also electrically connected with said coil, andthe said circuit is then continued from the said coil through the binding-post d and the conductor 16, through the lamp 3 and the conductor 17, through the bindingpost 012 and the contact 011, thence through .the diaphragm c3 and the binding-post cl3,

and through the conductors 18 and 10 to said generator. The normal iiow of, current in this circuit is also suliicient to cause the lamp 3 to glow and the coil d'9 to generate heat. The heat generated by thevcoil Z9 causes the diaphragm d3 to separate the normally closed cont-acts dl and ds and to also separate the ynormally closed contacts d and d2, it being observed that the contacts d and dl areconnected to move with the diaphragm; also, in

lyielding-to the expansion of air at one side the diaphragm d3 moves into engagement with the contact du. This closes a circuit from the generator A, through theconductors 5 11, through the lamp 4, through the conductor 19 and the binding-post (112, through the contact d and the diaphragm d3, and thence through the binding-post dla and the conductors 20 and 1() to said generator.

previous switch; also, it will'be seen that the normally open contacts of each switch control the circuit of the next vlamp or group oi lamps. Preferably, as illustrated, each lamp is connected in series with the heating-coil by which the lamp circuit is .automatically opened. Furthermore, as illustrated, the circuit of the iirst lamp and of the lcoil ZV1-includes normally closed contacts in each of the switches. In this way the first-lamp cannot glow until-atter the last switch has been op- 'erated and has had time to cool suiliciently to allow its contacts to regain their normal condition. Consequently the lamp 1 1s the first to glow. but is automatically put out by the action of the-coil b4', and the other lamps then glow in succession.

Itl is obvious that-With my im roved electrical sign apparatus a sign can' e provided IOO IlO

in which a lurality of groups of lamps can be caused to 'g ow successively. This successive glowing of different groups of lamps. in an l each other -inthe firstv switch, and linal electricalsign is designed to attract attention and is a thing so well understood that it needs no special explanation.

In Fi 2 the arrangement is in certain respects snnilar to that shown in Fig. 1; but in Fig. 2 the arrangement is such that the lamps 21, 22, and 23 not only glow successively, but also even glow simultaneously. in other words, the lamp 21 glows and goes out, the lamp 22 then glows and goes out, the lamp 23 then glows and goes out, and then all three lamps glow simultaneously. lThe current passes from -the generator E, through the conductor 24,-through the heating-coil 26 of the lirst switch, thence through the conductor 27, through the normally closed contacts 28, 129, and .30 of. the last switch, thence through the conductor 31, and through the normally closed contacts 32, 33, and 34 of the third switch. The circuit is then continued through the conductor 35 and through the normally vclosed contacts 36, 37, and 38 of the 'second\ switch, thence through they conductor 39' and-.the contact 40 of the diaphragm 41, which latter normally engage through the conductors `42 and 43 to thh7 other pole o-th'e generator. The normal flow or current in this. circuit is sufficient to cause the lamp 21 tolow and the coil 26 to generateheat. The eat generated by the said coil causes the diaphra 41 to move away from the contact 40, t ereby opening the circuit of the lamp 21, and in so doing the diaphra also closes a circuit from the generator ,through the conductor44 and the lamp 22, thence throu h the-conductor 45, through the coil 46 o the second switch, through the contact 47 and the diaphragm 48 of the said second switch, through the contact 49 of said second switch, thence throu h the conductor 50 to the contact 51 in t e v first switch, through the diaphragm 41, and

through the conductors 42 and 43 to the other ole of the generator. The flow of current t ough this last circuit is sufficient to cause the lamp 22 to low and the coil 46 to generate heat. The eat generated by the coil 46 expands the air in lts allotted cham-J ber and causes the diaphra m to open the normally closed contacts in t e circult of the lamp 22 and the coil 46 and to also open the contacts included in the circuit of the coil 26 and the lamp 21. Also the diaphragm 48 in yielding to the pressure of the expanded air moves 1nto contact with the two stationary contacts 52 and 53, thereby closing a circuit from the generator E, through the conductor 44, through the lamp 23 through the coil 54, through thecontact 56 and the dia hragm 58, through the contact ,59, through t e con- .ductor 60, through the contact 52 and the 4and the coil 54 and to also open the. normally closed contacts provided in this switch and which are included in the circuit of the lamp A21 and the coil 26. The action of the diaphragm 58 also operates to close a circuit from the generator E, through the conductors 44 and 62, through the coil 63 of the last switch in the series, thence through the conductor 64, through the contact 65 and the diaphragm 58, through the contact 66, thence through the conductors 61 and 43 tothe genrator. Current flowing in this last circuit causes the coil 63 to generate considerable heat, and the heat so generated expands the air in the chamber and causes the diaphragm 67 to open the normally closed contacts 28 29 30, which latter are provided inthis last switch andL included, like those of the other switches, in the circuit of the lamp 21 and the yielding to the expansion of t e. air at one side closes three parallel circuits through the lamps 21 22, and 23, one from the generator through the lamp 21 and the conductor 68 to contact 69, and thence through the diaphragm 67 and the conductors 61-and 43 to the generator, another from the generator, through the conductor 44 and the lamp 22, throu h the conductor70 to the contact 71, and t ence through the diaphragm 67 and the conductors 61 and 43 to the generator, and the third' from the generator, through the lconductor 44 and the lamp 23, through the conductor 72, through the contact 73, and the said diaphragm 67, and thence to the generator through the conductorsl and 43. Thus, as stated 1n Fig. 2, the arrangement is IOO IIO

such that the lamps or groups of lamps are caused to glow successively and then to im,- mediatel all glow to ether or simultaneously.

In eacli case it wi l he seen that the electrothermal switches have two chambers, one at each side of the flexible diaphragm. With' this construction changes of atmospheric temperature have no tendenc whatever to affect the working of the switc es. In other words, each switch is provided with what may be termed counterbalancing-chambers, tendin to counteract the effects of atmospheric c anges in temperature. Consequently no switch can operate until heat 1s generated in its coil or other resistance ;l

neither can it vary in its time'or mode of op# eration.

It will be readily of the coils or concentrating members c an be seen that the resistancehowever, that I do not coniine or limit my* self to any particular form or construction of electrothermal switch. For the purposes of my invention these switches may be of any I suitable, known, or approved form of construction.

What I claim as my invention is- `1. Automatic electric switch apparatus comprising a series of electrothermal switches,

2o `a translating device for each switch and connected to be operated thereby, suitable electrical supply for the said switches and translating devices, a normally closed contact at one switch in the thermal circuit of the pre- 2 5 ceding switch in the series and arranged to be opened by the operation of the said `one switch, and a normally open contact at the saidone switch in the thermal circuit of the succeeding switch in the series and arranged 3o to be closed by the operation of the-said one switch, for purposes substantially as described.

2. Automatic electric switch apparatus comprising a series of electrothermal switches,

Y a translating device for each switchand connected vto beoperated thereby, suitable electrical supply for the said switches and translating devices, a-normally closed contact at each switch, allarranged in series in the ther- 4o mal circuit Vof the iirst switch of the series and each arranged to be opened by the operationotits switch, and a normally open contact at each switch except the last switch of the sc.-

ries, each arranged in the thermal circuit of its succeeding switch of the l series and each arranged to be closed by the opera-tion of its switch, for purposes substantially as described.

3. Automatic electric, switch-l apparatus comprising a series of electrothermal switches, suitable translating devices connected to be operated by the switches, suitable electrical' supply for the said switches and translating devices, a normally open contact at each #switch except the last switch of the series,

each arranged Ain the thermal circuit of its l succeeding -switchlof the series and each ab ranged to'be closed by the operation ofits. switch, to operate the switches in succession; and a number of normally open contacts at 6o the last switch of the series, connected with the several translating devices and adapted; to be closed by the operation of their switch' to operate all of the translating devicesfsi- 'multaneously `65 4. Automatic electric switch apparatus comprisingaseries of electrothermal switches, a translatingdevic'e for each switch, apart therefrom and connected in the thermal; c'ircuit of its switch, suitable electrical supply iyor the saidswitches and translating devices, a normally open contact at each switch except the last switch of the series each arranged inthe thermal circuit of its succeeding switch of the seriesand each arranged to 4be closed by the operation. of its switch, to .operate the switches in successiornand a nor-l mally closed contact at each switch in its own thermal circuit and arranged to be opened by the operation ofgitsswitch.v Y

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois,l this 26th day of January-11904.

v FRANK B. COOK.

- Witnesses:

Snvnnimis B.` CnALowsKr,

WM. A. HARDERS. 

